Finally pictures and time to show them!!

Was it really 10 days ago that I got up early to write a new blog and found that the camera had been left at Beckys? What is happening to time?
But back to the blog that didn't happen 10 days ago. We did what we have done for the last 2 years at the end of January - taken the caravan to Bridlington for my birthday (I have somewhere in mind which is a little more exciting next year). We set off a day late to avoid towing in high winds and arrived to blue skies and sun on the Thursday morning. A quick 'set up' and we were off and out to follow the 'Town trail' around Old Bridlington which also happens to be where the new Dad's Army film has been filmed. We downloaded this

and followed it all round the old town. To be honest we didn't get very far in the beginning as we got talking to the owner of the Pack Horse pub in Market Street and made a mental note to go back for a drink at the end of our trail - (and in fact the smell of food was too hard to ignore when we went back that we had a late lunch there)

There are some lovely buildings 

The red and cream building on the left below was The Marigold Tea Rooms in the film

looking like this inside

but in reality was just a very dismal office!

If you look carefully under the Royal Oak Inn sign you'll see a Warmington on Sea brewery sign

 This shop (still with it's Jones butcher's sign)

  looked like this in the film

and the black fronted shop became

this

but I digress, back to some of the other lovely buildings

We had a laugh at this one

behind the boards some serious renovations were taking place.

There was just time whilst the sun was still out to go and park by the harbour and have a quick walk along the North front

and back to look at the boats

The rain and wind forecasted happened during the night and by breakfast on Friday the sun was out again. Deciding to go further afield we made our way up to Whitby and to the Abbey.

 what views we had. 

Making our way down we went up and down alley ways

till we found this

Sanders yard 

Here is the entrance on Church Street

Coffee and a scone was most welcome.

Leaving Whitby we travelled further north to Sandsend - a place I had holidayed as a child. The sun was still shining so we worked our way down to the beach and walked along.

Lots of lovely cottages were holiday lets, and we photographed several with the idea that we might hire one at some point

We took note of the cafes

 and pub/restaurant

It really is a delightful place.

But we'd not finished for the day, from Sandsend we went to Falling Foss.  (Link to a circular walk is here)

I had a very vivid memory as a late teenager of a house - un-lived in, that was in a wood and near Little Beck or May Beck called Midge Hall. As we walked down to Falling Foss I could see a house which I thought could be it. The more I thought the surer I was and yes, a sign back up at the car park indicated it was indeed, Midge Hall

otherwise known as Falling Foss tea garden, unfortunately closed for the winter but I had found it!

By this time it was getting dark and cold so we retreated back to the van. 

Saturday was my birthday and we had blue skies again so after breakfast we had a long walk on the south beach at Bridlington and returned to the Pack Horse for a very good lunch. To end the day we had a bitterly and I mean BITTERLY cold but very brief walk from the car park at Flamborough Head to the headland

A piece of cake and a Bailey's coffee was in order once back at the caravan!!

We were incredibly lucky with the weather, especially after what it had been like the previous days. So the van is put away but not for long as we are off to LONDON in it. My birthday present from my lovely children is afternoon tea at the Bluebird Restaurant, Chelsea - I can't wait xxxx